Natural Gas Supply Predicted To Experience Deficit, Bahlil Wants To Divert Gas Export Rates For Domestic Needs

SENIPAH - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that he would shift the share of natural gas exports that were previously exported and then used for domestic needs.

This is the government's strategy to overcome the natural gas deficit which is expected to occur from 2025 to 2030.

"Some of the rations must be exported, we are temporarily meeting domestic needs," Bahlil told the media crew at the Onshore Receiving Facility ENI Muara Bakau BV Seinpah, East Kalimantan, Wednesday, April 30.

Bahlil explained that the natural gas planning for domestic needs previously missed so that there was a deficit in gas needs.

"Because of what happened? Because of past planning, we do not take into account the consumption of domestic needs," he continued.

When his party will review domestic gas needs, the General Chairperson of the Golkar Party will prioritize domestic needs before exporting.

Previously, the prediction of this natural gas deficit was revealed by the President Director of PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk (PGN) Arief Setiawan Handoko in a Hearing Meeting with Commission XII of the DPR RI on Monday, April 28.

Dalam rapat terbit deficit telah terjadi sejak tahun 2025 dikarenakan natural declining di lapangan migas.

"Especially because of the natural declining of suppliers that cannot be balanced with the findings of reserves and production from new natural natural gas fields," said Arief.

The decline mainly occurred in the areas of North Sumatra, southern Sumatra, West Java, and Central Java and East Java.

The gas supply deficit in southern Sumatra and West Java has actually occurred since 2025 of 177 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) and is predicted to reach 513 MMSCFD by 2035.